Big River Journey
BIG RIVER JOURNEY FIELD TRIPS Big River Journey is a premier field trip program that takes place on the Mississippi River within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area! Students view and learn about the river through onboard educational activities while cruising on a modern Padelford riverboat.
Students choose to participate in three of five hands-on activity stations. Activities include:
- Using mapping skills to navigate locations on the river
- Studying river geology using samples of sandstone, limestone, and shale
- Checking out river birds using binoculars
- Examining different types of mussels
- Exploring the habitat of river otters
Each of these interactive stations allow students to connect with the river through science and real-world observations. The program is led by a National Park Service and Mississippi Park Connection partnership education team.
AVAILABLE DATES
- September 19-21, 26, 28
- October 3, 5
- Per Student: $12
- Adults: Free (limit of 10 adults per trip)
Note: Title I Schools receive a 30% discount code at the time of registration Note: Payment is by card
REGISTRATION AND MORE INFORMATION
- To register, click the following link to go to Mississippi Park Connection’s Big River Journey page: https://parkconnection.org/education-programs/fieldtrips/big-river-journey
- Registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis
- Payment is due at time of registration
- Grade Levels: 3-5
- Program Duration: 90 minutes
- Bus scholarships available for Title I schools
CONTACTS For more information, contact the following individuals:
- David Kappelhoff, Education Coordinator, Mississippi Park Connection (MPC), [email protected]
- Jim Ford Managing Director, Ranger, National Park Service, [email protected]
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Padelford Riverboats 205 DR Justus Ohage Blvd. Harriet Island St. Paul, MN 55107
LOCAL: 651-227-1100
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Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
Big River Journey (BRJ) is an integration of river and classroom experiences that connect 3rd-5th grade students with the science and heritage of the Mississippi River, and promote stewardship. BRJ culminates with a riverboat excursion on the Mississippi River featuring hands-on learning stations. Teachers who sign up for a Big River Journey trip incorporate river-theme activities into their classroom. Pre- and post-trip classroom activities are selected by each teacher from among the many activity options presented in advance teacher workshops. Workshops allow teachers to explore science activities that provide a foundation for related activities on the river, as well as thematic activities including geography, history, art, and more. Teacher workshop attendance is required of all teachers participating in BRJ field trips, unless the teacher has previously attended a workshop in the past 10 years. Big River Journey is aligned with state and district learning requirements. View a short video (6 mins) that introduces this program.
Field Trip Content
Big River Journey riverboat field trips run between Harriet Island (St. Paul) and Fort Snelling State Park. Trips are designed for up to 120 3rd-5th grade students, and feature staffed learning stations with hands-on activities on the following topics (subject to change):
*land-based experiences on trips paired with Fort Snelling State Park visits.
Cost and Registration
To register for a Big River Journey field trip, learn about program costs, and read about available scholarships, visit the Big River Journey page on Mississippi Park Connection's website. Contributors
Big River Journey is coordinated by the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (National Park Service) in cooperation with the Padelford Riverboats. Field trip program presenters include staff from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Padelford Packet Boat Co., Science Museum of Minnesota, Historic Fort Snelling and Saint Paul Audubon Society.
Big River Journey is made possible by the generous support of: Mississippi Park Connection , 3M Foundation, Ecolab Foundation, David Winton Bell Foundation, the National Park Foundation, and XCEL Energy.
Lesson Plans
Last updated: September 26, 2023
IMAGES
VIDEO